Controlling valve mechanism for liquid-lifting apparatus



Jan. 6, 1931. w. R'. PoLsoN ET Al. 1,787,916

CONTROLLNG VALVE MECHANISM FOR LIQUID LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1926 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT Vortice WILLIAM n. PoLsoN AND HARRY c. EVANS, or BRUNEAU, IDAHO coNTnoLLiNG vALvnMEcHANIsM For; LIQUID-Linterna errnaafrus Application filed January `l1, 1926. Serial` No. 80,528.

This invention relates to a liquid lifting apparatus of thevacuum type, designed primarily for lifting water, but'it is to vbe understood that it can be used for any Ypurposes 5 for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, ina manner as hereinafterl set forth, a new, novel and eiiicient form of apparatus of the class referred to for expeditiously lifting, by vacf num, water or other liquid from a lower to a higher level from which point it is automatically discharged. p

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to, with means for lifting the water or other liquids in relays from lower to higher levels.

' A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatusrof the class referred to, with a vacuum creating and rel-easing means common-to a set of receiving chambers arranged one above the other, or toopposed sets of receiving chambers to provide for the lifting of water or other liquid in relays from lower to higher levels.

' Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to, which is simple in its construction kand arrangement', strong, durable, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to set up. p

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, c'ombination andr arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinr is shownran embodiment of the'invention, but' itis to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope ofthe claim hereunto appended.

In the `drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughoutthe several views:

Figure lis a vertical sectionalelevation of a liquid lifting apparatus and controlling valve mechanism therefor in accordance with this invention. l

Figure 2 is a frag line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a -fragmental vsect-ion taken on line 3 3 oflfigure l. i

Omental section taken on K The forni of apparatus as shown is employedfin lifting, in relays, water or other liquid from lower to higher levels, that is from a source of supply'to an elevated point of discharge. Any number of relays can be employed, depending upon the position of the point of discharge,l and by way of eX- ample the apparatus illustrated is of the two relayitynpe, but it isto be understood that the apparatus can be set up to provide .for the desired number of relays necessary to lift the water to the" desired elevated point of dis'- charge. l

The apparatus as shown includes a pair of receiving chambers, one" arranged a substantial distance abovethe other and with the upper chamber positioned at the desired point of discharge. The receiving chambers are ,indicatedk at 1 and 2, and each is provided by a closed 'tank of any suitable contour andA of the desired capacity. The tank which provides the chamber 1 is referred to generally by the reference characteriB, andthat which provides the chamber 2, at l. .The top ofthe tank indicated at 5 an is formed :with an opening 6 for the passage of a combined suction and atmospheric pressure supply pipe 7. One side of the tank 3, near the*v bottom 8'thereof is provided with an outlet 9, 'controlled by a hinged valvular el'ementvlO.y The bottom 8, centrally thereof, is formedwith an'in'let 11, and secured to the bottom 8, as well as depending therefrom is ay flanged `collar l2 formed with interior threads 13. The inner face of the collar 12 registers with the wall ofthe inlet 11. Se curedtoand depending from, the collar 12 is a liquid conducting means in the form of a stand pipe 14, having arranged in its lower end a spider `1 5 providing a combined guide and stop for an inlet valve to be presently referred to.

The top and bottom of the tank l are in# dicated at 16, 17 respectively, and the former v The opening 18 is of greater diameter than the Vopening 19, and is arranged centrally of the top 16. Extending down through the opening 19 is a vcombined suctionA and atmosplieric pressure supply pipe 20. Mounted upon the top 16 and extending through the nular rib 24, provi-ding a valve seat for an inlet valve 26, which'controls the lower or inlet end of the stand pipev 14. The rib 24 is of greater height than the valvek 26, and the e latter has projecting upwardly therefrom a stem 27, which slides through the spider 15,

axially thereof. lThe `lower end of the stem 27 is formed with a collar or'boss 28 for limiting the upward movement thereof to Vprevent the valve 26 from abutting or sticking against the lowerr face of the spiderl.' Secured to .the lower end of the sleeve 21 and depending therefrom to' a point in close-proximity to the bottom 17 fof the tank 4 is:a liquid conducting means in the form of a vertically disposed Y pipe 29, which provides for the discharge of the water or other liquid which has been lifted to the chamber 2. The bottom 17 of the tank 4, centrally thereof is formed with an opening 30, and extending therein is the upper end of a valve housing consisting of a tubular member 31 having its upper part 32 of greater outer diameter than the lower part 33 thereof. Formed integral. with the upper .part 32 is a laterally extendingannular Bange 34, which is position-ed against the outer face of thev bottom 17, and secured therewith by hold-fast devices 35. The inner face ofthe partV 32 is bevelled to form a seat 36 for a bevel valve 37, which controls the intake to .the chamber 2;- Depending vfrom the valve 37 is a'stem 38, which slides through a spider 39 arranged within the part 33. The stem 38 has its lower end provided with a stop 40 for limitingV the upward movement of the valve. The part 32 is rperipherally threaded, as at 41.

The tubular member 31 providesmeans forV provides a combined guide and stop for an inlet valve which controls the lower end of the pipe 42. Threadedly engaging with the periphery, at thelower end of the pipe'42, as well as depending from said lower end, is a sleeve 44, having its inner face at the lower portion thereof bevelled, as at 45, toprovide Va valve seat for a bevelled'valve 46. Slidably extending through the spider 43 is a valve `stem A47, which carries a valve- 46, and said stem 47 is provided at its lower end with a collar or boss 48 to prevent the valve 46 from abutting or binding against the lower face of the spider 43.

VThe combined suction and atmospheric pressure supply pipe 7 consists of a vertically disposed branch 49, which extends through the opening 6 into the chamber 1. The said pipe further includes a pair of superposed branches 50 and 51 connected together by a T-coupling 52, a branch 53 disposed at right angles with respect to the branches 49 and 59 kand coupled with these latter by elbow couplings 54. The combined suction and atmos-` pheric pressure supply pipe 2O comprises. a

Yvertically disposed branch 55, which extends into theV chamber 2 through the opening 19. The .pipeQO further includes a pair of superposed branches 56, 57 connected together by a T-coupling 58, and a horizontally disposed branch v59 coupled with the branches 55 and 57 by the elbow couplings 60. l

Connected to the T-coupling 52 of the pipe 7 is an atmospheric pressure supply branch or :conduit 61, and connected to the T-coupling 58 of the pipe 2O is an atmospheric pressure supply branch or conduit 62.

f Associated with thepipes 7 and 20 is a controlling valve mechanismfor the purpose'of alternately forming and releasingthe vacuum in the chamber 1v or in the chamber 2. The said mechanism communicates with a vacuum forming element and such Vmechanism establishes Acommunication between said pipes 7 and 20 with the vacuum forming element, and the mechanism isso set up that when the pipe'7 is inl communication with the vacuum creating element, the pipe 20is in communication with the-atmosphere for the purpose of supplying atmospheric pressure `to the tank 2. The controlling valve l mechanism Vcomprises a housing 63, which provides a valve chamber 64 of conoidal shape', andfmounted therein is a rotary taperedvalve `65formed with a pair of .spaced ports 66, 67, and the former is provided to alternately establish communication between the pipe 7 and the atmosphere, and the pipe 7 and suction creating means. The port 67 performs a like function with respect to the pipe 20.

The housing 63 is provided with four nipples 68, 68', 69 and 69', whichvopen into the chamber 64. The nipples 68 and 69 are employedV for connecting branches 51 and 61 to the housing 63, and the nipples 68 and 69 are employed for connecting4 the branches n 56 and 62 to the housing 63. The housing 63 is further provided with a passage 70 which is common to the ports 66 and 67. The nipples are connected with the pipe branches by the couplings 71. The housing 63 is further provided with a pair of air inlets66 and 67 which are oppositely disposed with respect to the nipples 69 and 69. Upon rotation of the valve 65, the port 66 isalternately brought into communication with the nipple 68 and passage 70 and with the nipple 69 and air inlet 66. Alternating with respect to the port 66, the port 67 is alternately brought into communication with the nipple 68 and passage 70 and with the nipple 69 and air inlet 67.

The suction creating means is of the centrifugal type and indicated generally by the reference character 72 and will be more specifically referred to hereinafter. The said suction creating means includes a shaft 73 and a chambered disk 74 which communicates with the shaft 7B and has its rim provided with discharge ports 75. The shaft 7 8 opens into the passage 70. The shaft 73 p can be operated in any suitable manner and Cil on the operation thereof the disk 74 is carried therewith and centrifugal action derived on the operation f the disk 74 will provide for the creating of a vacuum in the chamber l or 2, and upon forming the vacuum the water will be drawn into that chamber in which the vacuum is set up.

The valve has projecting from one end thereof a stem 76, adapted to be connected with a suitable operating means, not shown, for the purpose of turning the valve 65 to bring the port- 66 in communication with the nipple 68 and the passage 70 for the purpose of creating a vacuum in the chamber 5l.

' 1When the valve 65 is shifted to establish communication between the branch 51 and the passage 70, the branch 6l is closed to the atmosphere and the branch 62 is open to the atmosphere, and the branch 56 closed to the passage 70. lVhen the valve 65 is shifted to establish communication between the branch 56 and the passage 70, a vacuum is created in the chamber 2, and when in such position the branch 62 is closed to the atmosphere, the branch .5l-closed to the passage and the branch 61 open to the atmosphere.

Vith respect to the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that the pipe 2O is in communication with the vacuum creating means 72 and closed to the atmosphere. On the operation of the .vacuum creating means 72, the valve 26 will be held closed, the

valves 37 and 46 moved to open position andk the formation of the vacuum within the chamber 2 will provide for a volume of water to be conducted from a supply, not shown, towards pipe 42 and into the chamber 2. This lifts the water from a lower to a higher level. Now itwill be assumed thatit is desired to lift the water from Vthe chamber2 into the chamber l. The valve 65-is shifted for the purpose of establishing communication betweenpipe 7 and the suction creating means 72 and to close pipe 7 tothe atmosphere, and when the valve 65 is so shifted, the pipe 2O is closed to the suction creating means 72 and is open to the atmosphere. When the vacuum is formed in the chamber 1, on the operation of thevacuum creating means 72, the valve 26 will be lifted from its seat and the pressure of the water in the tank 2 will maintain the valve 37 closed.

Vhen the valve 26 is lifted from its seat, duc

water has been lifted to the chamber l, the ,f

pipe 7 is closed to the vacuum creating means 72 and opened to the atmosphere, and on the supply of atmospheric pressure tothe chamber l, the water will be automatically discharged through the outlet 9.

The shaft of the Vacuum creating means is to be operated ata speed to provide for the travel of the rim of the disk at a greater speed than the travel of the atmosphere towards the rim, thereby creating the necessary vacuum to obtain the desired extent of lift of the liquid or water 'from the supply to a receiving chamber, or from one receiving chamber to the other.

It is thought the Amany advantages of a liquid lifting apparatus, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, andalthough the preferred embodiment'of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

That we claim is In combination, a casing adapted for disposition between a pair of inlet suction pipes and an outlet suction pipe, said; casing having superposedopenings for the inlet pipes and further having a passage opening into the interior of the casing at points diametrically opposite said superposed openings, said outlet suction pipe opening into said passage, a pair of air conduits connecting the interior of the casing with the inlet pipes, said casing `further having a pair of air inlets oppositely disposed with respect to the inlet ends of said conduits, and ka rotatable kvalve within the casing and havinga pair of spaced, angularly disposed ports extending therethrough for alternately establishing communication between the respective inlet pipes and outlet pipe and between the respectiveeir conduits and air inlets. Y Y

In testimony whereof, We :iiix our signer tures hereto. n

v WILLIAM R. POLSON.

` HARRY C. .EVAN 

